Daniel Hemric wins Redbud 300 at Anderson Speedway

ANDERSON, IN – Daniel Hemric made pit strategy at the halfway point of Saturday’s Redbud 300 at Anderson Speedway in Anderson, IN pay off in a big way. The Kannapolis, NC driver survived a first lap accident, and then chased down Senoia, Georgia’s Bubba Pollard with 23 laps to go to score the victory in the ARCA/CRA Super Series.

“To win a race nowadays means a lot,” said Hemric. “I’m really fortunate to do it with Jake & Deanna Carswell. It’s really huge to win this race. I’m just really fortunate to be in this here.

"We took the four (tires) at the break and we ended up losing only three or four spots of track position. We figured that at the end of the race it was going to pay off. It was a great call and here we are with the trophy."

Landon Cling and Brian Campbell lead the 24-car field down to the green flag. As the field went into the first corner, Cling and Campbell collided, sending Campbell hard into the turn one wall. Acworth, GA’s T.J. Reaid was right behind Campbell and had nowhere to go, sliding hard into Campbell before a lap was completed. Reaid was done for the night while Campbell did try to come out and make laps later, but eventually pulled off.

On the restart, three-time ARCA/CRA Super Series Champion and defending Redbud 300 winner Johnny VanDoorn moved up to second on the restart and would power his way around Cling to take the early lead. Pollard, who started fifth, quickly worked his way up to second and on lap 54 briefly took the leads away from VanDoorn only to lose it two laps later. VanDoorn would lead the field into the mandatory lap 150 halfway break as the field was faced with the decision of how many tires to take or take fewer Hoosiers and start more towards the front for the second half.

Rick Turner made the bold move to not take any tires and would restart in first with Pollard, who only took two tires. Pollard quickly retook the lead on lap 151 from Turner and tried in vain to pull away from the rest of the field. VanDoorn restarted in eighth as the only driver to take three tires while Hemric and others took four fresh tires.

The pivotal moment of the race came on lap 188 when Brett Robinson, who had been running in the top five throughout the race, and Trent Snyder, a three-time winner at Anderson in JEGS/CRA All-Stars Tour competition, collided going into turn three. Robinson was sent careening into the turn three wall setting off a chain reaction accident that knocked out several drivers. VanDoorn had nowhere to go and slammed into the back end of Robinson and moment later, Robert Maynor slid into the back end of a now stopped VanDoorn while other cars spun and hit the wall as well. In all seven cars were involved as five were unable to continue. In addition to Robinson, Snyder, VanDoorn and Maynor, rookie points leader going into the night, Brandon Watson were done as well.

On the restart, Pollard continued to lead as Hemric began reeling him in thanks to his four new tires. Soon they were slicing and dicing through traffic as Pollard tried to lose Hemric within the lapped cars. Hemric was up to the task though as on lap 277, Hemric made a daring outside lane pass on Pollard to take the lead for the first time. From there, Hemric would slowly pull away from Pollard and the rest of the field and would take the checkered flag first to claim the win in the Stoops Freightliner Redbud 300.

"The car was really tight after the first lap wreck where we got clipped,” Hemric said. “The way my row fired after the break, it allowed us to run the inside lane and pass a few cars. Then we got up into the top five and it was really just good fortune that we were on the bottom when everyone got together in turn three. After that the car really started working on the top side and I was able to catch Bubba (Pollard) and pass him. In the end though, He was doing all he could do to get by me and I was doing all I could to get away from him. It was a heck of a show."

Travis Braden finished in second, with Pollard in third, Steve Dorer in fourth and Brandon Oakley finished in fifth.

The ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS next race will see the teams return to Columbus Motor Speedway in Columbus, Ohio on June 28.